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1.25  III  1.4 


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Photographic 

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d'imaqes  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m6thode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

DAISY 


I>liiKV. 


I'lKH-  -HI. 


"^^BBt^ 


DA'SV 


!'•-■''  '■  '  '     :-  'A    '« 


•^ 


^ 


fe.' 


l»Mi>iv, 


if;- 


r1 


1" 


■4- 


tiT'-  -"i. 


DAISY 


!•) 


ItY 


\^\  .  MARSHALL  SAUNDERS 

Author  of  " Beautiful  Joe^^ 


"  A  little  child  shall  lead  them  " 


I'Hn.AnEl.PHlA 

CMART-ES    H.    BANES 
1420  Chestnut  Street 


PUBLISHER'S  NOTE 


T'h  ■'   little  story,  by  ^Jvli.vs  Jvlcii'shall  §aundcrs. 
author  of    '"  fOt-'i-Hitiful    d)oe,"  appcurcJ    some  y 


cars 


ocio    in 


B 


IKllOIKl,      in 


the    interc'vSts    of    o    bencV( 


Mit    institution. 


It  h 


us    seemcu    vvor 


Widt 


ou 


blicoti 


ion.     unJ    hen:o    it     is 


thy    of 
brought 


out 


in    Its    present    dress 


1'h 


e    intantile    grace    una 


quaint  Ways  of  the  little  chiki;  her  influence  in 
shapinc]  a  somewhat  Warped  life,  With  all  its 
incidental  lessons,  and  the  final  happy  endincj  of 
it  all,  Will  ijivV  the  little  story,  We  arc  sure,  a 
Wide  audience   and   a   cordial   reception. 


CONTENTS 


(Chapter    I 


A  Baby's  Grace, 


• 


.      7 


(chapter    11 


)unshine  ar.cl  §hadov\', 


25 


©lapter    HI 


••Ainiost    Lfost, 


•  t 


39 


Gilitiptcr    IV 


[fifth's  Benediction, 


.      .     49 


CHAPTER    I 


A.  BABY'S  Grace 


' 


i.-y 


H/4.''^^'^^. 


5A.JMB   e\7ening,    Jv|rs.    IDrummoncl, 


the  tired,  careWorn  v\'oman  who 


presided     oVer    our     boardinc^     house,     i-vj* 
cjlaiiced  dov\n   the  Well-spread    table,  and    in- 
formed   us    that    the    nex't    day   we   w\-re    to 
hav'e    a     neW   boarder — a    JVlr.    Robertson, 
a   youiKj    bank    clerk  who    had    lately   come 
from    England    to  our   prosperous   (ianadian 
toWn. 
1    knew  the    lad    by    reputation,    and    the    ne.^t 
morning   when    he   sauntered    into   the   dining   room, 
1     looked     at     him     carefully.         y-oox-   boy,    his   eye 
Was   heavy,  and    his  step   languid.         \w    his    foolish 


I  [ 


lO 


DAISY 


encieav'ors  to  "see  life/'  he  Was  fust  losiny  the 
purity  of  heart  unJ  mind  with  vvhieh  lie  IkkI  c|iiitteJ 
his  far-avVuy  home,  oiul  it  Was  mukiiicj  its  mark 
upon    hiiTi    ill    a   way   not   to    he   mistaken. 

j|c  sat  opposite  me,  and  |  eould  see  that 
he  Was  makiiicj  a  mere  pretence  of  takinc]  his 
bnukfast.  •         .  . 

Presently,  there  w"as  a  remark  frcMii  „Mrs. 
Brummond's  end  of  the  table.  T'lif  child  Was 
speaking— the  child  par  excellence,  \ov  there  Was 
not  another  one  in  the  house.  She  was  a  curi- 
ous little  creature — willful,  disdainful,  nec|lected  by 
her  mother,  and  suspicious  of  all  t)ther  mortals. 
K'tting  she  despised,  and  invariably  shovVed  symp- 
toms of  displeasure  if  disturbed  in  her  fuVorite 
occupation  of  playing  with  an  uijly,  yellow  cut  in 
dark    corners    of   the    house.        But    the   stranyest 


DAISY  II 

thincj  of  all  v\"a?;  her  ouietncss.  I^hc  neVer 
roinpi'J  iiki'  Dtlur  children,  neVer  prattled;  indeed, 
she  rarely  spoke  at  all,  so  We  v\"ere  all  attention 
as  she  pointed  to  young  Kobertson  w'ith  her 
spoon,  and  said  in  a  clear,  babyish  Voice,  'MiJats 
a    bei'ry   fine-lookin'    boy,    mamma.  " 

CiVerybody  smiled,  for  the  boy  in  question, 
though  manly  and  stalwart  in  appearance,  had  a 
decidedly  plain  face.  'Tie  blushed  a  little,  and 
bent  oV'er  his  plate.  JVlrs.  lijjrummond  took  her 
hand  from  the  coffee-urn  long  enough  to  lay  it 
on  Itjciisy's  head:  "push,  child,  you  must  not 
talk  at   the   tal)le." 

"  VYL'niov'e  dot  hand."  said  the  child,  in  a 
displeased  tone.  Then  rapping  on  the  table  With 
her  spoon,  to  call  Kobertson's  attention,  she  asl^ed, 
"Boy,    what's  your  name?" 


12  DAISY 

'■|v)latul    rvibertson,"    he   replied.  With  an   em- 
barrassed    lauqh. 

lijuisy,  intensely  interested,  and  altocjether  re- 
gardless of  the  boarders'  amused  glances,  said  in 
a  stage  whisper,  while  she  solemnly  Wagged  her 
curly  head,  "Woland  Wobertson.  |  lov'e  you." 
Then  scrambling  out  of  her  high-chair,  she  ran 
down  the  long  room,  and  peremptorily  demanded 
a  sect  o\-\   his   k^nee. 

Jle  started,  looked  annoyed,  then  sheepish, 
and  finally  took  her  up.  |t  did  not  suit  his 
ti-nglish  reser\7e  to  be  made  the  cynosure  of  all 
eyes.  IOui:>y    sedately     arranged     her     flounces, 

then  Watched   him    playing  With   his  food.       "Ron't 
you    like    fwicusseed    chicken?"     she   asked,    gently. 

"Yes,"    he  said;     "but   |   am   not   hungry." 

"(%ome    mornin's    |   eat   nuffin   too,"  she   suid, 


DA/SY  13 

in  a  relieved  Way,  "  more  partickler  when  1  huVe 
a  cjlass  of  milk  in  do  nicjht.  W'  lund,"'  tenderly 
pattinij  the  hund  around  her  Waist,  "'did  you  hac'e 
a   dwink  in   de   nicjht?  ' 

Robertson's  face  became  scarlet.  §he  VieWed 
him  With  the  utmost  solicitude.  Then  turnint]  to 
a  lady  ne.'^t  her,  who  had  finished  her  .breakfast, 
and  Was  indolently  fanning  herself,  "  |j)ive  me  dot 
fan.   de   poor  darlin'    is   hot." 

Both   on    that    occasion    and    many  subsec^aent 
ones,    Daisy    amused    us    by  the    epithets    she    be- 
stowed   upon    her    fax'oritc.       Wc    found    that    she 
had  not  been  an  inattenti\?c  obser\7er  of  the  many 
nevvly   married   couples    that   had    sojourned    at 
'^..',    eMrs,    lOrummond's. 

^3^^    Robertson     Was     fanned     for    several 
minutes — li)aisy  striking    his  face, 


14  DAfSY 

With   an   rx'tra    noW  <\x\^   then    for   his    nose,    in    her 
awkw'urJ    zi'ul,    until    |   WonclercJ    ot    his    Patience. 
Suddenly,    he   pushed    back  his  choir,    said    he   had 
finished    his   breakfast  and    that    she   had    better  qet 
down.        This    gav'e    rise    to    a    stroke   of    childish 
policy.        She   ordered   the  tublc-maid   to   brint)    her 
hitherto    neglected    plate    of    porridge,    and    puttinc) 
the    spoon    in    Robertson's    hand    insisted    upon    his 
feeding    her.         j[c    complied   with   a    pretty  good 
grace.         lUaisy    kept    up   ^\w    unbroken    scrutiny    of 
his  f.icc.  and    presently  dodging  a  spoonful   of   milk, 
laid    a    pink    forefinger  on    his    upper   lip.         There 
Was   just    the    faintest    suspicion     of    a     moustache 
there.        "|    fordet   what   you    call    dis,"    she    saia, 
''  moss — moss " 

'\Moustache,"     he    replied,    abruptly     bringing 
the    porridge   feeding    performance    to   a    close,    and 


DArSY  15 

puttmi]  hiT  on  her  tiny  feet.  G)hc  ran  out  of 
tlic  rooni  alter  him.  piillincj  the  nankin  from  her 
neck  as  she  vCent.  When  |  reached  the  hall, 
|\ohertson  sriv^^  taking  doWn  his  hat  from  thi'  rack, 
Itjaisy  in  close  attendance.  !?)he  vVas  just  nrefac- 
inc]  a  remark  With.  "  Woland.  lov^e,"  when  &|V|rs. 
liJrummond  came  out  of  the  dining  room.  "k)aisy," 
she  said,  peevishly,  "you  must  say  JVlr.  IXobertson." 

"  pow'  berry  cross  you  arc  dis  mornin',"  said 
the  child,  throwing  a  glance  at  her  over  her 
shoulder;  then  turning  to  nohertson.  she  went  o\\ 
to  ask  him  whether  he  Would  soon  come  back,  to 
see  her.  ■     ■      ■  ...... 

''sNo.  '    he   replied,    his   hand    on   the   door.    "I 

lunch   in    toWn :    you    w'on't    see    me    till    evening." 

I 'he  child's  face  fell,  and   she  turned   silently  aw'ay. 

Went  out  guick^ly,  and  overtook   him   before  he 


i6  .   DAJSY 

rcochfd  the  conuT  ()f  the  struct.  '^Thut  child 
seems  to  haVc  token  quite  a  fciney  to  you."  1  stiid 
quietly;   •'•  1  neVer  before  kneW  her  to  show"  so  much 

interest  in  any  one. 

"1   don't    know  why    she  does."  he    answered 
awkwardly,  and  With  some  impatience,   "unless  it  is 
owing   to  my  haN?ing   spoken   to   hci'  the   other  day. 
Vj'hen  1  Went  to  engage  my  room,  she  Was  sitting 
in    a    corner    alone,   and    1    eas?c    her   a    picture    I 
happened   to   haN7c   in    my   pocRct."        jie    stopped 
suddenly.        j^e  did    not   tell    me    then,    nor  did    1 
fmd   out  until  long   afterWard,  that  the  little,    lonely 
child    had    reminded    him    of   a   dead   sister  of   his, 
and   that  when    he    ga^e    her  the    picture,    he  gaVe 

her  a   kiss  With   it. 

I    made   some  trite  remark   about  the   softening 
and     good     influences    a    child    can    throw  around 


DAISY  17 

one — I  did  not  intend  to  hint  at  all  that  he  Was 
in  need  of  such  influences;  but  so  suspicious  Was 
he  in  his  daWning  manhood,  that  he  resented  my 
remai'k,  and  relapsed  into  profound  silence.  -A 
minute  later,  he  left  nie,  under  the  pretence  of 
tak,in(j  a  short  cut  to  the   bank. 

I  did  not  see  him  again  until  evening.  I 
entered  the  dining  room  on  the  first  stroke  of  the 
dinner  bell.  ^rs.  lOrummond  had  just  preceded 
me.  I  could  not  help  smiling  at  her  dismayed 
face.  l^aisy,  With  e>5cited,  ner\7ous  mo\7ements, 
Was  dragging  her  high-chair  from  the  head  of  the 
table,    to  a   place   near   Robertson's. 

'^  I  hat  young  man  has  beWitchod  the  child," 
she  said  fretfully.  "e)he  slapped  me  just  noW, 
because  j  Would  not  let  her  put  on  her  best  dress 
for  him." 


t8  daisy 

Wliile  she  Was  spea^inc]   iXobcrtson  entered  the 
room.  Tie   Was    in    better   spirits    than    in    the 

morninij.  When  his  eye  fell  on  lOaisy,  sittinc^ 
flushed  vVith  Victory  beside  his  plate,  he  smiled  and 
pinched  her  cheek  as  he  sat  doWn.  Itjurinc]  the 
proaress,  of  the  meul  he  showed  a  certain  amount 
of  attention  to  the  scrap  of  humanity  at  his  side; 
and  she,  With  no  eyes  for  the  other  people  at 
the  table,  hung  on  his  looks,  and  With  a  more 
practical  interest  in  his  Welfare,  Watched  eV'ery 
morsel  of  food  that  Went  into  his  mouth.  0nce 
she  said  impatiently  to  me,  "You  Wed-haired  man, 
you — don't  you  see  dot  Woland  Wants  some  \7ecje- 
tables?        Hoss  some  c|uick." 

i)inner  o\7er,  all  scattered  about  the  house. 
E)aisy  nevVr  retired  earlier  than  (.my  other  per- 
son,   so    1    Watched    her  curiously   to  see  what    the 


DAISY  19 

Would  do.  Kobcrlson  hud  gone  to  his  room. 
With  (■'  disuppoinled  air  she  seated  herself  on  the 
loWesi  step  o\  the  staircase.  §ome  yount]  men 
standincj  about  the  hall  tried  to  tease  her. 
''lO(-ihy  dear,"  said  one  of  them  mischievously, 
"['•n    afraid   you're    going    to    be    a    flirt." 

"what's  dot?"  she  said,  holding  out  inv'iting 
arms  to  the  yelloW  cat  that  Was  sneaking  about 
my  boots. 

"A  fhrt  is  an  animal  With  eyes  all  oVer  its 
head,  and  an  enormous  mouth,  and  it  goes  about 
the  vVorld   eating    men,"    ex'plained    another. 

I'oor  lOuisy — she  Was  yet  at  the  stage  of 
believ'ing  everything  she  heard.  e)he  shrugged 
her  while  shoulders,  as  she  said,  "lOrefful!"  and 
hugged  lu'r  dingv  cut  a  little  closer.  bresently 
they  all    luucjhed.         (a)he    had    throWn    the    cat    to 


30 


DAISY 

the  floor,  tind  snruncj  to  her  feet.  lAohcrtson 
Was  coming  downstairs,  Very  carefully  dressed,  a 
licjht  overcoat  throw'n  oVer  his  arm.  [ifVidently, 
it  Was  his  intention  to  spend  the  evening  with 
some  of    his  friends. 

lejaisy  inquired  Wistfully  whether  he  Was  going 
out,  and  on  his  replying  in  the  affirmative,  she 
asked  whether  it  Was  "Work"  that  Was  taking 
him — that  term  signifying  to  her  something  that 
could   not  be   neglected. 

"Jno,    l^jaisy,"    he    said,    trying    to    escape  her 
.    detaining   hands,    "I   am   going   to  sec  a   play." 

" W^lflnd,"  she  said  beseechingly,  "Won't  you 
stay  an'  play  Wid  mean'  l^ompey?"  pointing  toWard 
the  yellow  cat,  that  'as  glaring  at  him  from  under 
0   hall   chair. 

It   Was    not    a    \'cv\f    inviting    prospect.         "He 


DAISY 


21 


laughed,     put    her     aside,     saying,     "borne     other 
time,    little    girl,"    and  Went   tow'ard    the   hall  door. 
T'he    child   Watched   him,    her  little    breast  heav'ing, 
her    hands    clenched    tightly  ^n     the    folds    of    her 
dress.         pe  Was    going    to    lea\7e    her,    the    only 
person   in   the  house  whom    she  cared  for.         I 'he 
disappointment  Was    too    great,     "c'h.    Woland — | 
fcHight   you  Would     stay,"   she    said,    in    a    choRing 
\7oice.        Then    dropping    on    the  white    fur  rug   at 
her  feet,  she   burst   into  a   perfect  pass'on  of  tears. 
This   Was    such    an    unprecedented    pro:eeding 
on    the    part    of    the    self-contained    child,    that    a 
crowd     of     an:sious     faces     soon     surrounded     her. 
"WhateWr  is    the    matter  With   the    child?  '     said 
her  mother  c]uerulously,  as  she   bent  over  the   pink, 
sobbing    bundle.         ".^he    hasn't    cried     since    the 
day   she   fell   dovVnstair.-,  an^i   nearly  \(^\V'A   herself." 


22 


DAISY 

Robertson    hurried    back    at    the    sound   of    the 
Wailing  Voice.      "  Tias  she  hurt  herself?       he  asked 


anxiousl 


ly.  yie  looked  astonished  when  We  e)C- 
plained  the  cause  of*' her  emotion.  "JiJon't  cry, 
Daisy/'  he  said,  "1  Will  stay  With  you  to-morroW 
evening." 

I  he  child's  sobs  redoubled.  jie  hesitated, 
looked  at  his  Watch,  then  muttered  "  \  suppose  1 
Would   be  a   brute  to   |ea\7e  her  like  this." 

"Daisy,"  1  whispered  in  her  curly  locks,  "he 
is  going  to  stay  With  you."  A  shriek  of  Joy, 
and  the  child  Was  on  her  feet,  clinging  to  his 
hand  With  an  enthusiasm  that  made  him  turn 
aWay    With    a    half-foolish    air.  1  he    ne)^t    tvVo 

hours  Were  uninterrupted  bliss  for  Daisy.  ^he 
spent  them  in  one  of  the  parlors,  leaning  against 
Robertson's    knee,    looking    at    photographs    of   the 


DAISY  2% 

Athenian   JVlarbles.        They  Were  e\7idently  (?reek 
to  hep,  but  one  glance  at  Robertson  Would  smooth 
out  her  little,    puzzled    forehead.        At   ten   o'clock 
her   little    head    drooped    and    she    soon    fell    fast 
asleep,   so    that    he    carried    her  upstairs,   her  face 
bordered    by    its    curls    resting    confidingly    on    his 
shoulder.        When    he    came    doWn,     I    saW    him 
glance    irresolutely    at    the    clock,   as    if    uncertain 
whether  to  go  out  or  not,        |  asked   him  whether 
he  Would   like  to  come  to   my  room.       |   had  some 
curios    which    1    had    picked    up    in    my    rambles 
about    the    World    which    1    thought    Would    be    of 
interest  to  him.        Some  of  them   1  told   him  Wore 
from  Athens,  and  bore  some  relation   to  the  cMar- 
blcs    he    had    been    e>^amining.        jle  thanked   me 
\-ery  politely,  but  \7ery  stiffly,  and  said  that  at  some 
,   future    time    he    Would    like    to    see    them.  In 


i 

94                                   VAISY 

some    Wa^,     he    hardly    kneW    why,    he    felt    Very 

sleepy  this  e\?ening,  and  Would  go  to   bed  at  once. 

jie   Went,   and    thougits    of    his    little    companion 

Went  With  him    as    he    sunk  to    a    rest    purer  and 

sweeter  than    that  which  had   been    his  during  the 

Weeks  preceding. 

• 

1 

1 
♦ 

CHAPTER   II 


SUNSHINK     AND    SHADOW 


25 


M^-M-. 


^m/^^'\^^im^^'% 


^mSm=^^ 


5T^pE  ne>^t  day  Was  Sunday.      A^ 
1   came  downstairs    in  the    morn- 
ing   I    saw  that    Daisy  Was    in    her  old    place,   on 
the  lowest  step  of   the  staircase.        My  salutation 
she    returned    With    reser\7e,    but   presently   |    heard 
a  gay,   "JVlornin',  dear,"  and  turning  around,  saW 
that   she   Was    holding    up    her   face    to    Robertson 
for  a  kiss.       Before  they  entered  the  dining   room, 
she  made  solicitous  incjuiries  about  his  night's  rest, 
'hje    lauohed    shortly.         "\    ha\'en't   slept   so  Well 
for    many    a     night/'    he    said.        jler    little    face 

brightened,   and  they  Went  together  to  the  table. 

27 


28  DAISY 

1  hi-  (.'liuivli  lu'Ils  wVi-f  I'iiujinc]  when  \Ve  fiiiisliej 
breakfast,  uiiJ  some  oiu;  laiK)hiiK]ly  uskctl  lOuisy 
whcM-e  she  vVcis  (]oinq  to  ntteiKl  service.  ''i^'U 
are  teasiii  me,'  she  said  rcbukinalv;  ''vou  know' 
I    beriy   seldom   go   out." 

'Ms)oes    no    one    take  you    for  Walks?"     ask,ed 
Kobertson.  |  he   child   shook   her  head,  and   said 

that    her    mamma    Was    alvVays    busy.  \\\q    lad 

drew  up  his  stalwart  frame,  stifled  some  k.ind  of 
an  indicjnant  cx'clamation,  and  looked  nityincjly 
doWn  at  the  pale,  delicate  ficjurc  o\  the  child. 
||)aisy  Was  vVatching  him  attentively.  '"Woland," 
she    said     inijuiringly,    " 'rjaCe    you    any   vVork    dis 


mornin'  ?" 


"Jno,    ©aisy." 

I  hen   can't  you  div'c  mc  a  Wall\?" 
Jler  little  hand   stole  confidingly  in  his.        "Her 


S. 


DAISY  n 

tctu;  Was  coax'iiuj   in   the  e^^treme.        Jle   laughed, 
and  .^uid:     "^^^'y  vVcll — cjo  ask  your  mamma," 

111  dclicjhtcd  surprise,  she  scampered  to  her 
mother's  end  of  the  tabic.  '', Mamma,  may  1  go 
a-Walkin'  vVid  Wo — Wid  ,]Vlithter  Wobcrtson?" 
^Mrs.  lOrummond  looRed  up,  hastily  ran  her  eyes 
o\"cr  lOaisy's  shabby  frock,  then  ov'er  Robertson's 
handsome  suit  of  clothes.  "You  hav'e  nothing 
fit   to   vVeur,    child." 

[daisy's  face  became  the  picture  of  despair. 
"The  child  looks  Very  v\vll  as  she  is,"  interposed 
Robertson  drylv,  us  he  Walked  toWard  them,  "and 
it  is  a  Warm  day;  she  only  Wants  a  bonnet. 
[Daisy  listened  in  delight,  then  when  her  mother's 
consent  w'us  gained,  seized  Robertson's  fingers 
and  pressed  them  to  her  lips.  >.Not  long  after  I 
had   taken   my  seat  in   church  that   morning,   a  tall 


M 


younc]     man    With 

a  cl"ilJ  clincjinc]  to 

him,    came    Walk-    ,f 

ing    up    the    aisle       .« 

to  a  seat  in  front 

of    me.  10     my     surprise, 

Robertson   and    lOaisy.         Jle,    |    fear,  ,_,    , 

napped   a    little  during    the   sermon.        J\|ot    a      '^^?Q» 

Word  Was   lost  on    lOaisy.         £)he   sat   bolt   upright, 

her   hands    clasped    in   front  of  her,    her  eyes   fi>;(d 

on   th.)   clergyman.        <7\t   the   close    of   the  service, 

vVe    found    ourselv'es    near    each    other    and    vValked 

home   together,        <^/\s   We    passed   through    the   hot, 

sunny    streets,    Robertson,    as    if    to    apologize    for 

being    in    church,    said,     ""After    We    got     outdoors 

this   morning,    Itjaisy  insisted    upon   going    to  church, 

to  see  the  clergyman   'wing   de   bells.*"      ;.    . 


'■) 


30 


DAISY  3f 

''Tl't'  ^"liild  is  cilinosl  CI  heathen,"  |  ansWcrcd, 
in  c5  lovV  Voice;  "I  Wish  her  mother  Would  send 
her  to  Sunday-school." 

[daisy's  sharp  <c<\\-i>  caucjht  my  remarL  "  U 
dat  where  little  chillens  cjo  Sunday  afternoons, 
Wid    pi't-lly   books   imder   dere   arms? 

"fes,"  I  replied;  "Wouldn't  you  like  to  t]o 
too? 

''J^ay  I,  Woland?"  eacjcrly.  ''1  Will  be 
berry  tjood." 

■pe  laucjhed,  and  said  that  they  must  ask  her 
mamma   to  giv'e   the  subject  her  consideration. 

Por  the  rest  of  the  day,  IDi-nsy  followed 
Robertson  about  the  house  liRc  a  pet  doc]. 
Toward  e\"enin^|,  some  of  his  friends  came  in, 
and  he  shook  himself  free  from  her,  and  Went  up 
to   his    room  With   them.        -After  a    time,   they  all 


32  DAISY 

came    troopincj    downstairs.        The    soutul   of    their 
merry   Voices    floated    to    the    room    where     |    was 
sittiiic).        But   they  Were  all    hushed,   when   a    baby- 
ish Voice  asked,    "Are  you  yoincj   out,    Roland?" 
Robertson    resorted    to    artifice    to    pre\7ent    the 
recurrence  of    a    scene.       '-Baisy,"    he    said,    "my 
friend    here,   JVfr.    E)unforth "— laying   his    hand  on 
the  shoulder  of  the  youth  nearest  him— "is  a  yreat 
admirer    of  yelloW   cots.         go  you    suppose    that 
Pompey  could    be   persuaded   to  Walk  upstairs   and 
say   '^j-|oW-do-you-do'    to   him?" 

"©h  yes,  dear  boy,"  said  the  child,  trottmcj 
downstairs  to  fulfill  her  favorite's  behest.  \^hen 
the  sound  of  her  footsteps  died  uWay,  there  Was 
subdued  laughter,  and  some  one  said.  "  Vf  ho  is 
that  pretty  child,  Robertson?"  Then  the  dc 
bunged,    and  there  Was  silence. 


loor 


DAISY  33 

Vhcn  1  heard  lejuisy  returning,  |  Went  to  the 
door.  G)he  cume  hurrying  along,  firmly  holding 
the  disconsolate-looking,  yellow  animal  under  her 
arm.  A  hiank  look  overspread  her  face  when 
she  suW  that  1  vVas  sole  occupant  of  the  hall. 
"Where  is  ,JVlithter  Wobertson?"  she  inguired 
of   me   in   a   dignified   Way. 

"  pe  has  gone  out,'  1  said,  as  gently  as  I 
could.  "  Won't  you  come  and  talk  to  me  for  a 
little  while  ?  "  l|)isregarding  the  latter  part  of 
my  sentence,  she  said  mournfully,  "  [£)o  you  Woolly 
fink   so  ?  " 

1    nodded    my    head.         %\^.:   let  the   cat  slip   to 
the    floor,    With    a    Wrathful     ''(^et    downstairs,   you 
Wetched     beast.  '     and     then     Went     silently    avVay. 
1  here   Was  a   little,  dark,  corner  ni'ur  a    luick   stair- 
case,   to    which    she    often    retreated    in     times     of 


34 


DAISY 


great  trouble.  There  |  thinR  she  passed  the 
ne)Jt  hour.  ^bout  nine  o'elock  she  appeared  and 
from  that  time  until  nearly  e\'i:v\-  cne  in  the  house 
had  yone  to  bed,  she  Woi)  .-rLj  <esdessiy,  but 
cjuietly,  about  the  parlors  and  halls.  |  kneW 
what  she  Was  Waitincj  for — poor,  little,  lonely 
creature.  Shortly  after  ele\7en,  JVIrs.  I^rummond 
put  her  head  in  the  room.  "Why,  ©uisy,"  fret- 
fully, "aren't  you  in  bed  yet?  0o  right  up- 
stairs." 

The  child  silently  obeyed,  refusincj.  '-...'  -  dis- 
dainful gesture,  my  offer  to  earry  her.  T.iot 
night  1  could  not  get  to  sleep.  |t  seemed  as  if 
I  too  vVus  listening  for  a  returning  footstep.  «About 
one  o'clock,  there  Was  a  sound  on  the  stoTcase. 
I  got  up,  opened  my  door,  and  seei;  ;  that  the 
night-iight  Was   burning    in   the   hall,    stt;! 


Hit. 


DAISY  35 

nobcrtson,  With  his  hand  on  the  railina.  and 
a  terril)ly  rod  face,  Was  coming  slowly  upstairs. 
(Dust  as  ho  reached  his  door,  a  little,  white-robed 
figure  stole  into  the  hall.  ^he  ran  up  to  him. 
"0h  my  darlin  ,  durlin'  boy/'  with  a  curious  catch- 
ing of  her  breath,  "1  fought  you  Was  lost,  like  de 
[yabes   in  de    Wood." 

jie  steadied  himself  against  the  Wall,  only 
half    comprehending    what    she    said.  |  hen     he 

muttered   thickly.    "00   to   bed.    child." 

"VcWy  Well,"  she  murmured  obediently,  then 
standing    on    tip-toe,     ''"^K'^s    me    good-night,    Wo- 


land 


With    dluishcd    eyes    and   shcnncd    countctmnce 
the  young  man    looked   <^o\^\\   at  thi'   innocent,   baby 
face,    shining   out  i^\  its   tangle  o\   curls.         'fje  y^^A^. 
not   f't  to  kiss   her   and    he    knew   it,         "He   turned 


36 


DAISY 


his  head  fVum  her,  oiiJ  in  tones  harsher  t'nun  he 
really   meant   said,    "(5I0   uv\ay,    lijaisy.' 

'The  child  still  clun^  to  him.  0he  did  not 
understand  why  the  caress  should  be  denied  her. 
Suddenly  his  mood  changed.  'j\c  uttered  ^m 
oath,  pushed  her  violently  from  him,  and  stagtjered 
into  his   i\)om. 

'The  child  jell,  struck  her  head  heaVilv  atjainst 
the  floor,  then  lay  (-juite  white  and  still.  |  has- 
tened toward  her.  tooK  her  up  in  my  arms,  and 
rapped  at  her  mother's  door.  ,Mrs.  [yrummond 
Was  still  up,  sittim.)  before  a  tal)le,  maLnij.j  entries 
in  an  account  book.  §he  started  in  nerVous 
surprise,  then  when  1  e.-^piained  matters,  k)oked 
toward  the  empty  crib,  and  said.  "She  must  ha\?e 
slipped  liy  me   when    my  back  Was   turned.  pas 

she    fainted  ?         ^he    sometimes    does.         j     don  t 


DAISY  37 

k^noW  why  she  should  be  such  a  delicate  child, 
please  put  her  in  the  crib.  I  v\°ill  cjct  some 
brandy. 

1  glanced  uneasily  at  the  child's  pale  face,  then 
cjuitted  the  rtH)ni.  Early  the  ne)Ct  morning,  ,oMrs. 
Drummond  knocked  at  my  door.  "1  Wish  you 
vVould  conic  and  look  at  Baisy/'  she  said  gueru- 
lously;  "she  has  not  slopt  ail  night,  and  noW  she 
has  fallen  into  a  Kind  of  siupor;  1  can't  get  her 
to   speak  to   m(\ 

1    hurried   to   the  child's    cot,    and    bending   o\?cr 
it  said,   ''[Daisy,  don't  you   Want  some   breakfast?" 
She   neither   nunvd    wov  spoke,  and   after   mak- 
ing  other   ineffectual   attempts   to   rouse   her,   1   said. 
"The   child    is   ill — ^you    ninst   call   a   doctor." 

"Suppose  We  get  }\\\  Robertson   to  speak  to 
her,"    she   replied.         "This  may  be  only   temper." 


38  DAISY 

0n  going  to  his  room  1  shook  him  v'igorously. 
"Robertson.  Rohortson,  Wake  up."  "After  some 
difficulty,  |  roused  him.  pe  shuffled  off'  the  bed 
as  I  told  him  my  errand,  and  in  a  moment  We 
Were  beside  the  sick  child. 

"Speak  to  her."  said  JVlrs.  li)rummond  im- 
patiently;    "she  is   ill." 

'■"He  brushed  his  hand  o\'er  his  face,  and  lean- 
ing   o\Vr    her    said,    "  IDaisy,    Won't  you    speak    to 


me  '. 


?" 


■At  the  sound  of  his  \?oice.  the  child  opened 
her  eyes,  and  looked  ap  at  him  dreamily.  Then 
in  a  low  \'oice.  she  repeated  the  terrible  oath  he 
had  uttered  a  feW  hours  before.  |t  sounded 
unspeakably  dreadful  coming  from   her  childish   lips. 

"Rut  on  your  coat."  1  said,  "and  go  for  u 
doctor;     the  child's   mind   is  Wandering." 


CHAPTER   III 


Almost   Lost 


39 


•^  'm 


}  I  t'fjAT  v\'as  the  bcqinning  of  troublous  times. 
Per  that  clay,  and  many  subsei.|Lient  days, 
the  anqel  of  death  ho\?ered  o\?er  the  child.  A 
fe\;er  had  seized  upon  her,  and  her  little  body  be- 
came Wasted  and  spent  till  she  Was  but  a  shadow 
of  her  former  self  In  her  delirium,  Robertson  s 
name  Was  constantly  on  her  lips.  ^Jle,  poor 
fellow,  could  do  nothing.  prom  the  first  day  a 
nurse  Was  installed  in  the  sick-room,  and  no  one 
Was    allowed   to  enter. 

It  Was  on  that  day  that  1  met.  on  my  Way 
lo  my  office,  one  of  Robertson's  superiors  in  the 
bank.  "By  the  Way,"  he  said,  ''one  of  our 
clerks    boards    where   you    do — Roland    Robertson, 

his    name    is.  Do    you     knoW    anythinc]    about 

41 


4a  DAISY 

him?  (i!cin  you  tell  me  anything  in  regard  to 
his    habits?" 

"Very  little,"  1  said  hesitatingly.  1  kneW 
that  the  man  before  me  Was  a  model  of  all  virtues, 
and  had  Very  little  patience  v\7ith  youthful  follies. 
yie  spoke  a  fevV  w\)rds  in  a  disparaging  v\7ay, 
and  I  k,nev\?  that  Robertson's  careless  habits  Were 
drawing  suspicion  upon  him,  and  endangering  the 
remarkably  good    position   he  held.  The  thought 

flashed  into  my  mind,  that  perhaps  it  Would  be 
as  Well  for  little  Daisy  to  die.  The  shock,  of 
having  been  the  indirect  means  of  her  death 
Would  sober  the  lad  her  little  lonely  heart  had 
clung  to,  and  make  a  man  of  him  for  life.  (j^od 
Was  going  to  take  her  from  us.  I  pitied  Kobert- 
son  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart.  pe  Was 
going   about   the    house  With  a   set  face  which    as- 


DAISY  43 

supeJ    me    that   he   had    not  the   slightest   hope   of 
the   child's    recovery.        j4e    nex7er   spoke    to    any 
one,   and    after    the    bank    closed,   came    home    and 
.hut    himelf    up    in    his    room.        ^jioW   he    passed 
the    time     no    one    kneW.         ©ne    niijht,    1    heard 
.Mrs.    0rummond   come  to   his  door,   knock  gently, 
and    ask  whether  he  Would    liRe  to    come  and   say 
good-bye  to  0aisy.       The  doctor  had  said  that  she 
would   probably  not  live  through  the   night,  and  the 
nurse  thought   that    noW  she  Was   haN7ing   the  lucid 
inter\7al  which  sometimes  comes  before  death— and 
she  Wanted    to    see    him.        1    stole   guietly   out    of 
my   room,    Robeiu^on    stood    in    the    hall,    his    hand 
on    the   door-handle,   an    e>?pression    of  terrible    an- 
quish    on    his    face.         Suddenly    he  composed   his 
features,    and    Went    toWard   the    child's    room.        I 
paused     on      the     threshold.  The     room     Was 


/^^ 


.4= 

■frt 

dimly      liqhted 


and  as  quiet  as  ^ 


•»^ 


Ij  the  gra\?e.       Between  the  win-        ''^\ 

\1  J         \      clov\s.     on    her    mother's  r  1  \n 

L^y^      Itircje  bed, 
/^ 

Child  Iciy-^^l^  a  little,   frail,  v\"hite 

ghost,      ^//  her    skin    deathly    pale,    |  )^ 
and    drawn    <c\";j  t'tjhtly   oVer   her 
bones,    her    beautiful,    dark    eyes 
fix'cd     languidly     on      Robertson,    (^l 
Jle    stood   at    the   foot   o\    the    bed, 
his  hands   clasped  around  the   iron 
bars    w'ith    a    kind    of    stony   cor 
posure   on    his  face. 

liJaisy  c)a\?e  him  a  little.  Wistful 


^ 


DAISY  ,  45 

smile.  jlcr  affection  for  him  Was  as  slronc] 
as  ever.  T'he  feVer  had  iu)t  burnt  it  up,  nor 
v<li^s  it  killed  by  the  pains  that  racked  her  tender 
body.  [Presently,  she  murmured  a  retjuest  that 
he  v\ould  come  beside  her.  T'he  nurse  made 
room  for  him  by  the  pilloW.  jle  knelt  doWn, 
clenching)  one  hand  in  the  white  counterpane  with 
a  \?ice-liKc  cjrasp,  and  holdinc]  gently  in  the  other 
the    Wasted    fincjers    that   Daisy   stole   feebly   toward 


hmi. 


"Woland,  'IcQV  boy,"  she  murmured,  in  a 
scarcely  audible   Voice,    'Tve   been   Werry   ill." 

"His  forehead  contracted  a  little.  "Yes,  | 
know,"  and  his  voice  Was  Very  soft  and  tender 
and   had   the  sound   of   tears  in   it. 

''But  \'m  better  noW.  JMebbe  I'll  cjet  up 
in   de  mornin  . 


46  DAISY 

"r|e  looked  at  her,  p-'or  one  instant  the  rigicf 
control  in  which  he  held  himself  almost  (.]a\°e  Way. 
Bat  he  recovered  himself,  and  she  went  on  feebly: 
''Will  you  carry  me  doWn  to  breakfus' ?'  Then 
her  eyes  closed.  §he  seemed  to  be  slipping 
a  Way, 

rjis  face  became  like  marble.  T'he  child 
Was  dyincj,   and    she  did    not    know  it.  He   put 

his  lips  to  her  (iav:  'Myuisy,"  in  an  acjonized  \'oice, 
''this  is  a  sad  World;  Wouldn't  you  like  to  ^o 
and   lca\?e   it? 

'['he  child  lifted  her  hea\7y  lids.  "  btJaN^e  it," 
she  lisped.  ■ 

"Yes,    and    c]o    to    hea\'en,"    he    ejaculated    in 

a  desperate,   broken  v'oicL'.   "where  the    Lord    ^■''lesus 

our  e)aViour   is.         You   Will    be    Very   happy   there. 

jle    will    aiVe    you    a    white    robe    and    a     ijolden 


HT 


DAISY 


47 


harp,  and  you  will  have  other  little  chilJren  to 
play  with  you;  aiul  there  Will  be  beautiful  fields 
and    f]ovVer8 — 

"  t\o\'^  Werry  nice,"   half  sicjhed,   half  breathed 
the    e>chau5ted    child.         A    sWcet,    almost    seraphic 

» 

smile,  flitted  o\'er  her  little  face.  Then  a  doubt 
assailed  her.  With  a  last,  supreme  effort,  she 
tried  to  raise  herself,  ^\\\^  look  in  his  face.  "Are 
you   comin'    too,    Woland? 

'A  look  of  blank  despair  met  her  lov'ing  cjlanc.c. 
Surprised  and  bewildered,  she  shook  off  for  an 
instant  her  cominc]  letharcjy.  "Woland,"  she  said 
shar,.!y,  "I  sha'n't  i.)o  to  hea\?en  Widout  you." 
T'iien  she  sank  back  o\\  the  pilloW — her  e\\s 
closed. 

'T'h*'    friqhtful    tension    in    vvhich    the    lad     held 
himself    ^a\7e    Way.  j[^'V    little     fintjei's     slipped 


48 


BA/SY 


fro.n  his  cjrasp^  and  ho  fell  bucR  in  a  dead  faint. 
'^  ^^•^'  "^'t  disturb  the  little  one  hoWcvVr,  and  in 
^'  l'"le  time  he  Was  hin.self  acjain,  and  anxiously 
Watchinc]   the   comincj   of  the   end. 


CHAPTER   IV 


LiKK'iS     BBNKrjICTION 


49 


|p'  v\\'  voor,  short-siyhted  mortals  had  the  p!an- 
ninc]  of  our  lives,  hoW  strancjcly  Would  they 
be  laid  out!  1  had  imagined  that  the  child  Was 
goiriL]  to  die,  in  owlcr  that  her  influence  oVer  the 
life  that  had  become  so  strangely  miXed  up  \A,'ith 
hers  might  li\'e.  It  had  not  occurred  to  me 
that  th(^  lad,  thrown  into  a  state  of  desperation 
and  feeling  himself  l>randed  as  her  murderer, 
might    I'e    templed     to    i:o'ii.e     rash    act.  1  hank 

heaWn,    he    Was    not    put    to   it.  1  he    child    did 

not  die,  I'ut  li\'ed  to  I'e  a  further  blessing  to  him. 
When  he  vVal\^'d  from  his  sW^nin.  We  Were 
able  to  v\hispei'  in  his  cov  that  she  had  jallen 
into  a  guii't  sleep — that  possil'lv  there  had  I'een 
a    mistake    niade.  pe    staggered     to    hi-     (eet, 


5» 


52 


DAISY 


and  sat  by  the  sleeping  chilJ  |or  c\  v\hilc,  v\itli  a 
kidk^  oj  one  who  has  received  a  reprieve  from 
death,  then  Went  to  his  room  and  shut  himself 
in.  prom    that    hour    he   w\is    a   different   crea- 

ture. The    heavy    stamp    of   affliction    had    been 

laid    upon    him.  Tie   Was    a    man    noW,    in    the 

best  sense   of   the   Word. 

l(L)ay  by  day,  Ifjaisy  steadily  improved;  Kobert- 
son  Was  constantly  With  her,  and  until  she  w'as 
able  to  run  about  on  her  own  small  feet,  he 
carried  her  everywhere  in  his  strong  arms. 
Sometimes  he  Would  Walk  up  and  down  the 
halls  for  hours  at  a  time,  listening  to  her  childish 
confidences  and  telling  her  stories  With  the  utmost 
patience  and  gentleness.  -^And  his  demotion  did 
not    cea^e    when     her    strength    returned.  jjle 

solitary    life    Wa^    ut    an    end.         jl'^'f    ^^^    '^''^^ 


r 
re 


I 


.  i. 


DAISY  53 

time  he   spent  v\'ith   her.        T'hi.'^   had   the   inevitable 
effect  of   lesseninc]    his    intercourse  With   his  former 
boon   companions.       .They   had   claimed    a   monop- 
oly of   his    time.         JNoW    he   got   in   with   another 
set — these    jolly,    good    felloWs,    who    kept   him   out 
in     the     daytime,     playing     out-door     games,     and 
sending    him    home    so    e:^hausted    that    he  Wanted 
no    further    e)^citement   for    the    night,    but   a    book. 
a    comfortable    seat,    and    Daisy's    good-night    kiss. 
The    child  Was    pro\7ing    a    guardian    angel    to 
him,    and    not    only  to    him,    but    to  all    the    house. 
An    astonishing    change    had    come    o\Vr  her  since 
her  illness.        She  Was  always    gentle   noW,    nev'er 
sullen,    and    cheerful    sometimes   to    gayety.         I'hf 
boarders   had  all   taken   to   petting   her— she  Was  a 
link    to    bind    them    together    and    make    them    less 
selfish — and   she   seemed   to   uppreciote   their  utten- 


54  DAISY 

tions,  though  her  preference  for  Robertson  Wa? 
dt^cidedly  marked.  E^en  JV|i^^.  ©rummond  v\'os 
changing.  She    often    took    ©aisy    on    her    lap 

now,  and  1  had  seen  her  brush  av^\\\/  a  tear 
when  the  child  tried  to  smooth  out  her  Wrinkles 
with   her  tiny  hand. 

It  Was  late  in  the  summer  when  \0a\sy  re- 
cov'ered  from  the  fev'er.  All  through  the  autumn, 
Robertson  ga\7e  her  Walks  and  driv'es,  bought  her 
picture-book,s  and  toys  to  amuse  herself  With 
during  his  absence,  and  With  a  sense  of  grati- 
tude far  beyond  her  years,  her  little  heart  seemed 
running   ov'er  With   lov'e  toWard   him. 

Bt-'fore  the  autumn  closed  my  business  con- 
nections took  me  ^w^lay,  and  for  sev'eral  years  I 
Was  a  stranger  to  PuirfaX'.  Pne  Winter  day, 
when    the    air   \\'\is    thick   With    snowflakes,    1    came 


■         •      DA/SV  55 

back.  My  first  thoughts  Were  of  the  Brum- 
moiuls  and  \\o\am\  Robertson.  §trancje  to  say, 
he  Was  one  of  the  first  men  1  met.  jie 
knew  me  at  once,  ga\7e  me  a  hearty  tjreetmi;], 
and  insisted  upon  my  going  along  With  him  to 
his   house. 

There  Was  no  need  to  ask  hitn  hoW  he  Was 
getting  on.  pis  surroundings  shoWed  Worldly 
prosperity,  his  face,  the  happy,  upright  man. 
44e  looked  graW  when  1  spoke  of  the  ISrum- 
monds.  "  |?oor  M^s.  Drummond — she  has  been 
dead  for  tWo  years.  §he  Was  utterly  Worn  out." 
■    "And    Daisy?" 

"He  stroked  a  hcaCy  moustache.  Jlis  object, 
I  think.  Was  to  conceal  a  smile.  "§he  is  m 
England  at  school.  jier  holidays  she  spends 
with    my   people." 


*    V 


\\   V  _.   "AnJ  do  they  like  hor?" 


.-^U 


T 


^J  --    "Immensely.        i^Slie-   has 
qroWn   to    l)e   a     /^^'£'f  Very     ^'^VV\..  beuLitiful 

girl,  both  in  disposition  K  and  \'^/  looks." 
Then  openint)  his  cout,  he  ^^dreW  f  from  an 
inner  pocket  a  picture — the  head  of  a  \  lo\'ely 
young   girl.  ^ 

j   scarcely   recognized    the   delicate   child 
of    old.         "And    does    she    keep   up    her/ 
de\7otion  to  you?" 

"She   does."         "He  gu\"e   me   a  de-     .v^ 
cidedly  amused  glance;     carefully  replaced    (^^ 
ne)Ct    the   photograph   tWo   or  three    pressed  , 

white   field    daisies    that    had    fallen    out,    and       / 

/ 
put   it  back,  in    his   pocket. 

"•And   vchat    is    to    become   of   her?"      1    Went 
on   curit)usly. 

"jle    looKcd    about    his    handsome,    but    solitary 


i 


i^ 


ii 


I 


DAISY 


57 


draWiiu]    fooin.         "I   cim  ^joiiu]   to    Eiujlutul   in   th 

sPi'iiK),    U>    ^H'l    luT,"    lu-    said    VMlli   u    laiitjh. 

ha\i'   Iricd    liviiKj   vvilhout   lur,    uiul    1    can   tMulurv   it 


no    lunyiT, 


The  EmJ. 


f%<-' 


